[QuickSilver]

You can find statistics for anything on the web. There's nothing on the site that actually backs these numbers up. If it was a national veterinarian's association, then we'd be talking.

As for ear cropping, it is absolutely not in the best interest of the dog.

From a popular book here, "The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog":

In almost all countries except America ear cropping is considered barbaric. It was abolished by the English Kennel Club and Australia early this century. The operation is painful for the puppy, even though the actual cropping is performed under anesthetic....

The American Kennel Club is strict in policing the use of any artificial means of enhancing the appearance of a dog in the show ring. It seems incongruous to permit the alteration of the normal appearance of a breed by ear cropping.

If yours is one of the unfortunate breeds which requires its puppies to suffer this tortuous experience, your bitch's breeder is the one to advise you where then operation should be performed....